Latest news with #JackLis
South Wales Argus
5 days ago
- South Wales Argus
XL Bully ban failing says RSPCA after Gwent dog attacks
The charity argues that the ban, introduced in 2023, under the Dangerous Dogs Act, has not reduced attacks or fatalities, and is instead leading to the unnecessary euthanasia of many dogs. The call for reform comes nearly four years after the death of 10-year-old Jack Lis from Caerphilly, who was killed by an XL Bully named Beast in November 2021. The dog's owner was later jailed, but the RSPCA says breed-specific legislation is not protecting the public and is urging the UK Government to review its approach. Jack Lis was killed by an XL Bully named Beast in 2021 (Image: NQ) Dr Samantha Gaines, head of companion animals at the RSPCA, said: "This data paints a predictable and depressing picture – with the change in legislation meaning high numbers of XL Bully dogs are being seized and put to sleep. "Many of these dogs will have been much-loved family pets; their existence made illegal by a change of legislation focussed purely on how a dog looks rather than their behaviour." The charity says the current law, which focuses on the appearance of a dog rather than its temperament or actions, is ineffective. In September 2023, the UK Government announced its intention to ban the XL Bully breed. By December 2023, it became illegal to breed, sell, advertise, or give away an XL Bully, and as of February 1, 2024, ownership without an exemption certificate became a criminal offence. Since the ban, police forces across England and Wales have seized large numbers of suspected banned dogs. Of the 1,035 dogs seized in 2024 by 19 police forces, 674 (more than 65 per cent) were identified as XL Bullies. XL Bullies have been banned in the UK since late 2023 (Image: PA)The charity says this figure is likely much higher across all 43 police forces. The impact on the animal welfare sector has also been severe. Figures from the Association of Dogs and Cats Homes show that 693 dogs were euthanised in 2024 because of the legislation—more than three times the 201 in 2023, and more than eight times the 80 in 2022. Despite the ban, dog-related fatalities have not decreased. There were ten reported deaths in 2024, higher than in any full year before the ban was first announced. Dr Gaines said: "It is absolutely heart breaking that dog fatalities and serious bite incidents are continuing and in very concerning numbers – which underlines that the Dangerous Dog Act simply isn't working, and hasn't been for 34 years. "The UK Government urgently needs to adopt a different approach; focussed instead on preventing dangerous behaviours rather than focussing on the dog's individual breed. "The law has been failing dogs and, crucially, public safety too for long. "It's time for decision makers to review the current dog control situation and commit to measures which effectively protect public safety and safeguard dog welfare." The RSPCA is calling for a full review of the Dangerous Dogs Act and the introduction of measures that prioritise responsible ownership and behaviour-based controls. The charity says the current "patchwork" of data highlights the need for more consistent and complete information to inform public safety and animal welfare strategies. Dr Gaines said: "The patchwork of data provided by police forces shows an increase in the numbers of dogs being seized, and put to sleep – but this is not the only area where data is lacking. "We clearly need far more consistent, detailed recording about dog bites, and monitoring of dangerous dog incidents. "In the absence of this information we are unable to fully understand the scale of dog bites and their causal factors, nor to inform effective public health and safety strategies. "Given the importance of this issue, we urgently need a more complete picture." In Gwent, where 10-year-old Jack Lis was killed, police have only been able to provide dog control figures dating back to 2018. Ruth Jones has said dangerous dog data in Gwent is incomplete (Image: NQ) There have also been concerns raised by Newport West and Islwyn MP Ruth Jones about the lack of consistent and accessible data. The MP argued that the data "is inconsistent and incomplete". Other incidents in Gwent have also raised concerns about dangerous dogs. Yuki was left with injuries that required nearly £20k of treatment after an attack by an XL Bully (Image: NQ) A Pomeranian Japanese Spitz named Yuki was attacked by an XL Bully, leaving her with injuries that required £20,000 in veterinary treatment. The RSPCA and other members of the Dog Control Coalition are calling for laws that focus on dog behaviour and responsible ownership, rather than breed. XL Bullies can only be legally kept if owners obtained an exemption certificate by the end of January 2024, and if the dog is muzzled in all public places. For more information on the RSPCA's campaign against breed-specific legislation, visit the RSPCA website.
Scottish Sun
03-05-2025
- Scottish Sun
Sick XL Bully breeders turned our town into dog attack hellhole by swapping life on the dole to smuggle in £12k hounds
IT'S famous for its historic castle and its local cheeses but a small UK town has now become renowned for a much darker reason. Ruthless dog breeders have spread terror across the Welsh community by selling banned XL Bullies for up to £12,000 per dog. 11 Ten-year-old Jack Lis was killed by an XL Bully Credit: PA 11 The giant dogs are illegal in the UK following a spate of attacks across the country Credit: WNS 11 Caerphilly has suffered a huge number of dog attacks in the last few years Credit: WNS And densely-populated housing estates around Caerphilly in the 'Valleys' area of south Wales have seen a spate of attacks by the illegal dogs in recent years. Most notably, schoolboy Jack Lis, 10, was fatally savaged by an XL Bully at a house on the Penyrhoel estate in 2021 and, a year later, beloved gran, Shirley Patrick, died 18 days after being mauled by an American XL Bully less than half a mile away. In April 2023, a five-month-old baby was rushed to hospital after an attack in Penyrheol. In the months that followed, dozens more people in Penyrhoel and neighbouring Graig-y-Rhacca were attacked by XL Bullies or close variants of the breed, including five-year-old Rory Colwill and his best friend Conor Crowley, seven, who were almost killed by a Pocket Bully dog - a cross between an American Bully and a Patterdale terrier. Today, The Sun can reveal the wave of attacks in this tight-knit community started as the UK began to emerge from lockdown. Two men in their early 20s, who have lived in Caerphilly their whole lives, claim to know the culprits. One of the men, who pleaded with us not to reveal the pair's identities, told us: "It all started a few years ago when a couple of people from round here went to Belgium and brought back four XL Bully dogs in their VW camper van. "It was all legal. The dogs had passports and everything, but when they bought them back here, they bred the f… out of them. "These types of bully dogs are worth thousands and there was easy money to be made. "There's no work around these parts. Most of the local people are living on benefits. It's been like this for years. Mum screamed 'my baby's dead' as girl, 10, killed by XL Bully weeks after excitedly telling friends about her 'new pet' "Dog breeding proved to be a good way to make a living. They used the four dogs they brought into the country to breed masses of pups, then sold them for up to £12,000 a time. 'Then the people who bought the pups started breeding them with other types of dogs and it just got completely out of control. Because the next generation of pups were cross breeds and not automatically illegal, it got hard for the authorities to police. 'But they were just as aggressive in the wrong hands and they started attacking people. That's why there were so many victims. For every one that got reported, there were another 20 that weren't. 'It quickly got out of hand and now there are dog attacks here every day." Vile mauling 11 Rory Colwill was attacked alongside his friend by two dogs - his mum Chelsea says he was scared to leave the house Credit: Nigel Iskander 11 Some of their injuries were caused by a Pitbull Credit: WNS 11 Shirley Patrick, 83, died in hospital two weeks after being attacked by an XL Bully cross Credit: Supplied Locals were shocked when the vicious attacks went further, causing the two tragic deaths in November 2021 and December 2022. 'It was horrific when Jack Lis died after he was savaged by a dog called Beast, and then grandmother Shirley Patrick was killed. "That was horrible. She had dementia and the dog just ripped her head open. "A couple of days later I was told the bloke whose dog it was had been seen in the pub drinking and laughing. "After that, the authorities and the police cracked down hard. "I've been told that since those attacks, there have been between 500 to 1,000 dogs put down. "You won't see many dogs around here anymore, people are ashamed to walk dogs. "Those that do tend to be looked down upon, even if they are ordinary dogs. "It's a close community here and we all try to look out for each other, but these tragedies have really knocked people sideways." Overwhelmed owner 11 Locals say some people feel ashamed to walk their dogs in the area now Credit: Nigel Iskander 11 Jack died while playing at a friend's house on the Pen-Y-Bryn estate Credit: Nigel Iskander However, the men also had some sympathy for the owner of 'Beast', Brandon Heydon, who was jailed for four and a half years in 2022 over Jack's death. 'He was only eighteen when he was given the killer dog - we all knew him, he wasn't a bad guy," said one. "But he honestly didn't know what he had taken on. The dog proved a killer and he went to prison for it. "He's out now but not living around here anymore. It's torn him apart and he is full of remorse because of what happened . "I don't think he could have come back to this area because I don't think he would be welcome, so he has had to go and live somewhere else and start over." Dog attacks in the UK Police forces recorded 30,539 offences of a dog injuring a person or guide dog in 2023 a 21 per cent rise on the previous year, when 25,291 were logged. In 2024, the figure rose again to 32,568 - a 4 per cent increase. According to latest figures from the Office for National Statistics, there were 16 deaths due to dog attacks in 2023, a sharp rise from preceding years where the number had been in single figures. Between 2021 and 2023, around half of fatal dog attacks were caused by a single breed, the American XL Bully. In December 2023, it was the first breed to be added to the Dangerous Dogs Act act since 1991, making it illegal into sell, breed, abandon, or give away an XL Bully. Intimidating yobs 11 Richard says he is careful not to let his five-year-old daughter out without supervision Credit: Nigel Iskander 11 The close community is said to be shattered by the horrible attacks Credit: Nigel Iskander Richard Evans, 41, who used to work at nearby Greggs until he had to quit due to a medical problem, said: "Youngsters congregate around the chippy and the shop here in Penyrhoel and, yes, there used to be dogs here. It was pretty intimidating. "I've lived here for around five years and have a five-year-old little girl, so obviously I'm very careful not to let her out unaccompanied. "If anything happened to her like little Jack I don't know how I'd carry on. "The trouble is the breed has got into the wrong hands and because the people who buy them don't know how to look after them, people get hurt. "Dogs are the same as people, if they are not brought up properly when they are young they can run wild and that's what I reckon has happened here. "How you are bought up is how you end up.' Call for tougher laws 11 Chelsea has been campaigning for stronger laws after her son and his pal were attacked by a dog Credit: WNS The mother of Rory Colwill, Chelsea, has campaigned vigorously for tougher laws against illegal dog breeding since her son and his pal Conor were attacked. She said: 'The boys were so terrified after the attack that they wouldn't leave the house for a long time.' Chelsey, 31, had to punch, stamp and kick the "out-of-control" animal as its jaws locked around Conor's hip when it pounced on the boys in the street without warning. She said: 'Rory is still so traumatised by what happened. This dog should never have been allowed outdoors without a muzzle. His owner was not fit to have a dog like this because he clearly could not control it. 'He just stood and watched while this animal tried to kill the boys. 'We need new and better laws to protect the public, such as making owners of potentially dangerous dogs hold a special licence and more safety checks. 'Maybe the types of breeds we allow also needs looking at again.' Chief Superintendent Jason White, of Gwent Police, said: 'We have seen a rise in the number of reports for the offence of dogs acting out of control causing injury and Gwent is no exception to this national increase in reported offences. 'But with that rise in reports comes an increased awareness of attacks involving dogs and their impact in our communities, meaning more people are confident in reporting these offences to us and trusting us to take decisive actions, such as seizing dogs, when necessary. 'Our officers take a proactive stance on dealing with dogs involved in any kind of attack, but we also want to promote to all our communities that responsible dog ownership is vital in keeping the public safe from harm.'
The Sun
03-05-2025
- The Sun
Sick XL Bully breeders turned our town into dog attack hellhole by swapping life on the dole to smuggle in £12k hounds
IT'S famous for its historic castle and its local cheeses but a small UK town has now become renowned for a much darker reason. Ruthless dog breeders have spread terror across the Welsh community by selling banned XL Bullies for up to £12,000 per dog. 11 11 And densely-populated housing estates around Caerphilly in the 'Valleys' area of south Wales have seen a spate of attacks by the illegal dogs in recent years. Most notably, schoolboy Jack Lis, 10, was fatally savaged by an XL Bully at a house on the Penyrhoel estate in 2021 and, a year later, beloved gran, Shirley Patrick, died 18 days after being mauled by an American XL Bully less than half a mile away. In April 2023, a five-month-old baby was rushed to hospital after an attack in Penyrheol. In the months that followed, dozens more people in Penyrhoel and neighbouring Graig-y-Rhacca were attacked by XL Bullies or close variants of the breed, including five-year-old Rory Colwill and his best friend Conor Crowley, seven, who were almost killed by a Pocket Bully dog - a cross between an American Bully and a Patterdale terrier. Today, The Sun can reveal the wave of attacks in this tight-knit community started as the UK began to emerge from lockdown. Two men in their early 20s, who have lived in Caerphilly their whole lives, claim to know the culprits. One of the men, who pleaded with us not to reveal the pair's identities, told us: "It all started a few years ago when a couple of people from round here went to Belgium and brought back four XL Bully dogs in their VW camper van. "It was all legal. The dogs had passports and everything, but when they bought them back here, they bred the f… out of them. "These types of bully dogs are worth thousands and there was easy money to be made. "There's no work around these parts. Most of the local people are living on benefits. It's been like this for years. "Dog breeding proved to be a good way to make a living. They used the four dogs they brought into the country to breed masses of pups, then sold them for up to £12,000 a time. 'Then the people who bought the pups started breeding them with other types of dogs and it just got completely out of control. Because the next generation of pups were cross breeds and not automatically illegal, it got hard for the authorities to police. 'But they were just as aggressive in the wrong hands and they started attacking people. That's why there were so many victims. For every one that got reported, there were another 20 that weren't. 'It quickly got out of hand and now there are dog attacks here every day." Vile mauling 11 Locals were shocked when the vicious attacks went further, causing the two tragic deaths in November 2021 and December 2022. 'It was horrific when Jack Lis died after he was savaged by a dog called Beast, and then grandmother Shirley Patrick was killed. "That was horrible. She had dementia and the dog just ripped her head open. "A couple of days later I was told the bloke whose dog it was had been seen in the pub drinking and laughing. "After that, the authorities and the police cracked down hard. "I've been told that since those attacks, there have been between 500 to 1,000 dogs put down. "You won't see many dogs around here anymore, people are ashamed to walk dogs. "Those that do tend to be looked down upon, even if they are ordinary dogs. "It's a close community here and we all try to look out for each other, but these tragedies have really knocked people sideways." Overwhelmed owner However, the men also had some sympathy for the owner of 'Beast', Brandon Heydon, who was jailed for four and a half years in 2022 over Jack's death. 'He was only eighteen when he was given the killer dog - we all knew him, he wasn't a bad guy," said one. "But he honestly didn't know what he had taken on. The dog proved a killer and he went to prison for it. "He's out now but not living around here anymore. It's torn him apart and he is full of remorse because of what happened . "I don't think he could have come back to this area because I don't think he would be welcome, so he has had to go and live somewhere else and start over." Intimidating yobs 11 Richard Evans, 41, who used to work at nearby Greggs until he had to quit due to a medical problem, said: "Youngsters congregate around the chippy and the shop here in Penyrhoel and, yes, there used to be dogs here. It was pretty intimidating. "I've lived here for around five years and have a five-year-old little girl, so obviously I'm very careful not to let her out unaccompanied. "If anything happened to her like little Jack I don't know how I'd carry on. "The trouble is the breed has got into the wrong hands and because the people who buy them don't know how to look after them, people get hurt. "Dogs are the same as people, if they are not brought up properly when they are young they can run wild and that's what I reckon has happened here. "How you are bought up is how you end up.' Call for tougher laws 11 The mother of Rory Colwill, Chelsea, has campaigned vigorously for tougher laws against illegal dog breeding since her son and his pal Conor were attacked. She said: 'The boys were so terrified after the attack that they wouldn't leave the house for a long time.' Chelsey, 31, had to punch, stamp and kick the "out-of-control" animal as its jaws locked around Conor's hip when it pounced on the boys in the street without warning. She said: 'Rory is still so traumatised by what happened. This dog should never have been allowed outdoors without a muzzle. His owner was not fit to have a dog like this because he clearly could not control it. 'He just stood and watched while this animal tried to kill the boys. 'We need new and better laws to protect the public, such as making owners of potentially dangerous dogs hold a special licence and more safety checks. 'Maybe the types of breeds we allow also needs looking at again.' Chief Superintendent Jason White, of Gwent Police, said: 'We have seen a rise in the number of reports for the offence of dogs acting out of control causing injury and Gwent is no exception to this national increase in reported offences. 'But with that rise in reports comes an increased awareness of attacks involving dogs and their impact in our communities, meaning more people are confident in reporting these offences to us and trusting us to take decisive actions, such as seizing dogs, when necessary. 'Our officers take a proactive stance on dealing with dogs involved in any kind of attack, but we also want to promote to all our communities that responsible dog ownership is vital in keeping the public safe from harm.'
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- Yahoo
Inside UK's dog attack hotspot where desperate community struggles to fight back
One area which has suffered some of the of the most high profile dog attacks in recent years is Gwent. Tragedy struck twice in the space of a year in the sleepy working class suburb of Penyrhoel in Caerphilly. The first victim was schoolboy Jack Lis, 10, who was fatally savaged by an XL Bully at a house in the area in 2021 and then less than 12 months later beloved gran Shirley Patrick died 18 days after being attacked by an American XL Bully in 2022. Both deaths shocked the tight-knit community to the core but there had been warning signs after an explosion of illegal breeding in the area during the Covid lockdowns, the Mirror reports. READ MORE: 'I couldn't ignore what I found at beauty spot - there are families here' READ MORE: British man, 27, dies in horror avalanche at popular ski resort in French Alps And just days before Jack lost his life to an XL Bully called Beast it was caught on CCTV footage terrorising passers-by outside a local shop. The Mirror spent some time on the Penyrhoel estate this week where the back-to-back dog attacks still loom large on people's minds. Although at first glance you would not know the tragedies had taken place at all as grannies piled into the community centre to enjoy some day time bingo while the local chippy was still doing a roaring trade with happy school children. But ask about dangerous dogs on the streets of Penyrhoel and the memories of Jack and Shirley are never far from the surface and everyone is united in their determination to crack down on dangerous dogs in the area. While you don't see XL Bullies roaming the streets these days thanks to the combined efforts of the police and the local council locals told us they are still there but hidden and most importantly people have the courage to report them now. One woman said: 'I think there is that fear of reprisals, people may have gone to prison for what happened but their supposed mates are still about and there is still that fear about speaking out. 'But thanks to work done locally we now know where to report these things and know they will be taken seriously, so we might not put our head above the parapet but we know how to deal with it. 'The dogs are still about though, you just don't see them as much, they are walked at night and kept behind closed doors.' Local councillor Steve Skivens has coordinated the LEAD (Local Environmental Awareness on Dogs) response in the area but accepts that breeding is still going on the background. He told The Mirror: 'We need fundamental change in animal welfare legislation to protect animals and educate animal owners or controllers and ensure there is responsible dog ownership in our communities. Enforceable by law if necessary. Breeding, sale or procurement and dog control all require further review. He added: 'Penyrheol is a good community and 99% of its people see the positives in what has had to happen after such brutal incidents. 'However there are still people breeding, owning and moving dogs which have the potential to harm others. We do not want another incident and people must report any concerns.' Another man, who did not wanted to be named, told The Mirror: 'It's definitely got better but I know someone who used to breed XL Bullies and he made a load of dough but got out just in time. 'There is not much work for young people so some of them saw it as a chance to make some money but even he told me the bullies weren't right, they were never right, they would always flip. 'I don't know what you do though because the breeders will just move on to other breeds.' This is something Shirley's daughter Gail Jones has learned the hard way since her mum was killed. She said: 'To be honest I think a lot of people, especially during Covid, were breeding dogs because they wanted to make some money. 'Places like Gwent and Mid-Glamorgan are amongst the poorest areas in Great Britain and I think people just thought they could make a fast buck. 'That's probably why so many dogs were illegally bred in the last few years and that's probably why we find there are more attacks in this area. 'Of course this dogs will not have been bred or trained properly and can be bred by anybody not necessarily just the XL Bully either because the previous owner of the dog which killed my mother were breeding two other breeds of dog in the house at the same time an they were doing it for money but they weren't qualified breeders or anything like that. 'In all honesty I will say there is very high percentage of people doing this who are unemployed, and not because they are lazy but because they have no opportunities there is no work for them and the pits have closed down so they turn to things like this. 'Unemployment has played an awfully big role in people breeding these dogs, not just Bullies, because it is not regulated like it should be anybody can breed a dog so maybe it should licenced if that was possible. 'It's the easiest way for some people to make money so we need regulation and training to ensure we breed safe dogs and when we do we do it responsibly and the only way I think we stop it is through tough jail sentences for people found breeding dangerous dogs, it is the only way we can get it under control.'
BBC News
15-04-2025
- BBC News
XL bully attack: Girl bitten outside a village shop
A girl taken to hospital with puncture wounds from a dog bite was attacked by a "potential XL bully type dog," police have said. She was bitten outside a shop in the Trebanog area of Rhondda Cynon Taf on 7 April, South Wales Police said, adding her wounds were not life dog was destroyed before officers were able to confirm if it was an XL bully, the force explained. The breed is banned in the UK after a series of attacks, some fatal, including the death of 10-year-old Jack Lis in Caerphilly in 2021. If a dog owner believes their pet is an XL Bully, police said it can no longer be registered with the UK government. They are being asked to contact South Wales Police directly about options to register the dog and not have it seized. What is an American XL bully and how dangerous are they? An XL bully is the largest kind of American bully UK government published guidance to help identify XL bullies, which are not a specific are described as large dogs "with a muscular body and blocky head, suggesting great strength and power". Male XL dogs stand from 20in (51cm) high at the shoulder, with female XLs only slightly are considered XLs if they meet the minimum height and a substantial number of other characteristicsThere are no official figures for the number in the attacks resulted in more than 600 hospital admissions in Wales in 2023-24, according to the UK government data.
